Small Group Guide: Week of 10/4
With Us: The Beatitudes
To view this guide as a PDF, click here.
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Opening Discussion
Check-in
Icebreaker suggestions
Option 1: Pastor Matthew stepped into a boxing ring for the first time at 50. What's something new you tried as an adult, and how did it go?
Option 2: In honor of St. Francis: introduce the group to a pet you have now, had growing up, or wish you had.
High/Low exercise
Give each member a chance to share their highest points and lowest points of the past week.
Additionally or alternatively, you can invite the group to share a word, emotion, or phrase to describe how they're coming into the group this week.
Digging Deeper
As you reflect on Sunday's sermon:
What has stayed with you from Sunday’s message?
What resonated with you? What comforted/challenged you?
Did you learn something new?
What might the Spirit be prompting you to remember and consider?
Pastor Matthew opened with a photo he never showed: the moment he was knocked down in his boxing match.
In seasons when you've felt knocked down, what were you tempted to believe about yourself, or about how God saw you?
The crowd around Jesus was made up of the sick, the poor, and the grieving (Matthew 4:23-25). Many believed suffering was a sign of God's curse, yet Jesus began with "Blessed are..."
Have you heard or been taught on the Beatitudes previously?
Which Beatitude surprises you most, or is hardest for you to believe?
The Beatitudes are both for now and to come, foretastes of God's Kingdom that will one day be fully realized.
Where have you seen or experienced the upside down nature of these blessings?
The Beatitudes describe a community, not a lone hero. Pastor Matthew shared three local examples: churches pushing for affordable housing on the former DC General shelter site near RFK, the CCC Prayer Team holding one another in grief, and neighbors standing with Wheatley Elementary families when ICE agents gathered nearby.
How does reading the Beatitudes as a description of a community, rather than a checklist for individuals, change how you hear them?
Which of these stories stirs you most, and why? Which Beatitude do you see in it?
Pastor Matthew closed with an invitation: take heart and stay steady, knowing you are where God is.
Pastor Matthew encouraged us not to despise the season we're in. What might God be doing in your current season, even if it isn't one you would choose?
Which Beatitude do you want to carry with you this week? What is one way it could be embodied?
Prayer
Praying for one another regularly is an essential part of small groups.
Give the group a chance to share prayer requests.
In honor of St. Francis, whose feast day fell on Sunday, consider praying for peacemakers you know and for neighbors in our city living in poverty.
Community Updates
Miner Elementary Trunk or Treat
Our friends at Miner Elementary School are hosting a Halloween Trunk or Treat for the students and their families the weekend before Halloween. This is a fantastic way for us to serve the children and families of the Rosedale community and bring a bit of joy to neighborhood. The Miner PTO is leading this effort and they are looking for 2 things:
Halloween Candy donations and
Volunteers to decorate their car trunks for the event.
The Trunk or Treat event is Saturday, October 24th from 5pm-7pm in the Miner Parking lot. You can bring your candy donations to Christ City on Sunday, Oct. 18th. If you would like to volunteer for the event you can sign up at: christcitydc.org/minerhalloween
Miner PTO
In one of our longest standing partnerships, Christ City is continuing to work with Miner Elementary to provide childcare during their monthly Thursday PTO meetings. This allows Miner parents to attend and be engaged at the school and in their child’s education.
We’re hoping small groups can mobilize to provide childcare from 5:45-7:30p. Christ City will provide craft materials and pizza! Once you choose a week with your group, sign up at christcitydc.org/minerpto.
